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Session Description

Ticketed event: Guest Ticket - Tuesday Lunch - $55.00

Speakers

1. Dr. Ershela L. Sims

   WEPAN, Inc.

   Dr. Sims is the Executive Director of the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN). Prior to joining WEPAN she was the Interim President and Senior Vice President for Virtual and Outreach Programs at the SC Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (SCGSSM). She was the first black person and first woman to lead SCGSSM. She began her career at GSSM as Vice President for the Accelerate Virtual Engineering dual enrollment program. Prior to GSSM, Dr. Sims was the Dean of Engineering and Technology at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) where developed and taught courses in Statics, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Research, and Biomedical Instrumentation. She has 25 years of experience as an industry engineer and K-20 researcher, educator, and administrator; she was a DEI practitioner across all of those positions. Her outreach work has been featured on the PBS series Black Issues Forum and JJ Digeronimo's Tech Savvy Women. Dr. Sims serves on multiple boards including the Clemson General Engineering Advisory Board, the Florence- Darlington Technical College Board of Trustees, and UNT BME Department Industry Advisory Board.

   Ershela earned her BSE in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of NC at Chapel Hill. She is a member of several professional associations including the NSBE (Lifetime member #412), ASEE, AISES, BMES, SHPE and SWE. Dr. Sims is a recipient of the NSBE Dr. Janice A. Lumpkin Educator of the Year Golden Torch Award, co- recipient of the National Science Teachers Association Vernier Technology Award and the NCSSM Keeper of the Dream Award.

2. Mr. Jahi Sauk Simbai

   NAMEPA

   Mr. Jahi Simbai is the Senior Manager, Workforce Development, in Human Resources at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In this role, Jahi partners across NREL to build an integrated strategy and plan for the “Workforce of the Future,” primarily through K-12, collegiate internship, and postdoctoral programs. Prior to NREL, Jahi was the Assistant Dean, Office of Graduate Studies at Colorado School of Mines. Earlier in his career, Jahi worked as a structural analyst for Ball Aerospace. Jahi holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder and an MBA from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He serves as the President for the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates (NAMEPA), the nation's leading community of change agents, cultivating diversity, access, equity, and inclusion in engineering.

3. Dr. Kelly J Cross

   Georgia Institute of Technology

   Dr. Kelly J. Cross, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at University of Nevada Reno, is a data-
   informed, transformational mission-focused culturally responsive practitioner, researcher, and educational leader. Dr. Cross’ complimentary professional activities promote inclusive excellence through collaboration. She is an NSF CAREER awardee, delivered multiple distinguished lectures, and has received a national mentoring award.